Apparatus for charging of coking retorts



J-. BECKER 1,841,000

APPARATUS FOR CBARGING 0)? COKING RBTOR'I'S Filed larch 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I V// r FIP8412 OR 198419006 Jam, 12, 1932.

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12, 1932. J BECKER 1,841,000

APPARATUS FOR CHARGING o1" COKING ms'ron'rs Filed March 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I L Tr A f A w BYWMW ATTORNEYS.

unuw Jam :12, 1932.

J. BECKER APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OF COKING- RETORTS Filed March 12, 1,925

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1932.

J.BECKER APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OF COKING RBTORTS Filed March 12 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH BECKER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE KOPPERS COM- PANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR CHARGING 0F COKING RETORTS Application filed March 12, 1925. Serial No. 14,859.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in the heat treating art and more particularly to improvements in means and methods for the charging of heat treating plants with fuel. While of general utility it finds useful application in the feeding of fuel to the oven chambers of coking plants and is of particular utility in charging ovens of the so-called vertical type such, for instance, as shown in the applications of van Ackeren, Serial No. 68%,342, filed January 4, 1924, and Serial No. 1718, filed January 12, 1925, assigned .to the same assignee as the instant case.

It has heretofore been a practice, in coke ovens ofthe vertical type, to feed the fuel into the oven through a hopper leading into a single large discharge passageway or feed box conveying the fuel from the hopper to a point in the oven below its top. This construction has the disadvantage that the fuel being constituted of a single large stream travels slowly through the passageway and tends to become heated while still therein, causing gumming and sticking. Such feeding devices usually restrict the passageways for the escaping gases from the retort to such an extent as to cause excessive high pressure in the retort.

My invention contemplates the separation of the fuel into a plurality of rapidly moving streams which quickly reach the hot zone in the furnace thus reducing the tendency of the fuel to gum or stick inthe feed passageways. My construction also affords adequate means for the collection of the gases of distillation by providing a large space above the coal charge to facilitate the uniform giving off of gas into the space assuring a uniform coking condition at the upper level of the coal in the retort.

As illustrative of the manner in which 1 may effect these results I may use a plurality of feed pipes of restricted area leading from the hopper to the desired points in the interior of the oven chamber, these pipes preferably diverging toward their lower extremities thus speeding up the stream of fuel passing into the retort and rapidly delivering it into the hot zone. I further provide spaces iii the elevation of the discharge points, without seriously interfering with the continuous operation of the retort. They can also be easily and quickly replaced for cleaning or if they become burnt out or otherwise damaged, without seriously interfering with the continuous operation of the retort.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a decarbonizing offtake preferably consisting of a replaceable pipe through which the hot products of combustion can be taken off When the oven is subjected to a decarbonizing operation, said pipe being designed to shunt the hot gases from the feed pipes to avoid the danger of burning out the latter, and if desired the feed pipes may be pulled up into the feed hopper during the decarbonizing operation to further protect them.

My invention further consists in such other new and useful improvements and has for further objects such other operative advantages and results as may be found to obtain in the processes and apparatuses hereinafter described or claimed.

\Vhile as a specific embodiment I have disclosed the principles involved in my invention as applied to vertical coking retort ovens, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that they are applicable to other heat treating apparatus.

In the accompanying disclosure, forming a part of this specification, and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied or practiced, but Without limiting the claims to such instance or instances Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View taken transversely of the battery.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of my charging device taken on the line 22 of Figs. 4: and 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, further illustrating the channels 30 open to the atmosphere.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in each of the several views.

In the illustrated embodiment of my fuel charging device there is shown a vertical retort A comprising regenerators B and coking chambers G separated by heating walls D. At the top of the retort is provided a hopper 1 comprising a lower section, consisting preferably of a casting 2 resting in a seat formed in a base casting 3, and a top section 4: preferably of sheet iron attached at its lower edge to the upper edge of the section 2, as by riveting. This construction gives adequate strength while reducing the weight to a minimum.

The top section 4 of the hopper has, preferably at its center, a charging opening provided with a cover 5 which may be removed by its handle 5 or similar means, when it is desired to feed fuel into the hopper. The top section 4 of the hopper is also provided,

preferably on its incline-d upper sides, with openings closed by covers 6 to give access to the interior of the hopper to permit the removal of the feed pipes hereinafter referred to, or for other purposes. These covers are provided with inspection cone plugs 6. This section is further provided with an equalizing gas inlet 7 and outlet 8.

Spherical or ball plugs 9, or the like, may be provided at various points about the charging device as shown, each having a diametrical opening to enable it to be turned in one position to permit inspection and to another position to effect an efficient closure.

The base member 3 is provided with spaced transverse bridge members 10, each comprising downwardly inclined sides diverging from an apex to serve as fuel guides and together with the adjacent preferably inclined sides and ends of the base 3 being provided with seats 11 in which rest the upper edges of the funnel shaped sides 13, at the upper ends of the charging pipes 12, adapted to direct the fuel into said chargingpipes. The pipes 12 are shown as rectangular in cross-section. The lower sides 14 of the charging pipes 12 diverge downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to facilitate the passage of the fuel. Preferably integral with the hopper base casting 3, and at one end thereof, is provided a gas ofl'take 20 while at the opposite end is provided the removable pipe 21 designed to carry off the decarbonizing gases generated during the process of burning out the carbon deposits from the interior of the oven. There is preferably provided a downturned vertical flange at the bottom of the hopper base casting 3 seated in a channel frame or rim 22, the joint being preferably closed by a sand seal. The bottom periphery of the lower hopper section 2 rests in a seat 23 formed in the upper end of the base casting 3, the joint being preferably packed against the leakage of gas. A metal lining for the upper or gas collecting portion of the oven chamber is shown at 25 provided at its upper end with a horizontal flange constituting a seat for the sand seal frame or rim 22, a tongue and groove connection or the like being preferably formed between them. The function of the metal lining 25 is to protect the brickwork from the effects of condensation in the upper cooler regions of the oven and thus preventing the brick from becoming disintegrated. The sand seal frame 22 and wall therebelow are provided with appropriate inspection holes 26 leading to the fines. Adjacent feeding devices may be tied together at their top by angle plates 27 and the lids 6 may be conveniently connected to the respective pipes 12 by chains 28 whereby the removal of said pipes when replacements are desired may be conveniently effected. However, any other convenient means for removing the pipes 12 through the side openings may be employed, such, for instance, as a rod with a hook on its end to engage the lower edge of a pipe, the rod being removed when not in use.

The bridge members 10 are preferably closed at their lower ends by bottom members 29 co-operating with the sides to form ventilating and cooling channels through the feed device, with openings 30 to the atmosphere at their ends.

This construction provides a relatively cool collecting reservoir for the gases of distillation in the top of the oven constituted of spaces 32 between the pipes connected with spaces 33 at their sides having uninterrupted communication with the gas offtake 20.

lVhen, during the operation of the device, it is desired to charge the oven the lid 5 is removed' and fuel is introduced into the hopper, rapidly descending through the throats formed by the inclined sides 10, thence into the funnel shaped upper portions, 13 of the pipes 12 and thence downwardly between the lower flaring portions l4 of the pipes. The comparatively restricted crosssectional area of the individual pipes as distinguished from the much greater cross-sectional area of a single large feed box, as heretofore employed, results in a relatively increased velocity being imparted to the coal and its rapid delivery in a plurality of streams to the hot portions of the oven whereby the charging device is kept relatively cooler, the tendency for the incoming fuel to be unduly heated and to stick therein reduced and a better distribution of the fuel is obtained. Moreover, the gases of distillation will be collected in the spaces 32, 33 surrounding the charging pipes 12 and pass from them directly to the otftake 20, and by reason of the fact that they are maintained relatively cool, the tendency to decomposition will be minimized. The proper pressure in the hopper to prevent passage of the gas upwards therein is maintained by appropriate regulation of the pressure through the instrumentality of the pressure regulation inlets and outlets 7 and 8, respectively.

IVhen it is desired to decarbonize the oven the pipes 12 are preferably lifted and air is introduced. The hot gases of combustion are led off through the decarbonizing gas ofl'take 21, thus shunting them from the metal framework constituting parts of the charging device and relieving them of the liability to be burnt out. As previously indicated, the charging pipes 12 and the decarbonizing gas ofi' ake pipe 21 are readily removable and replaceable.

The invention as hereinabove set forth or exemplified may be variously practiced or embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

1. In a vertical coking retort having an open top continuous vertical coking chamber adapted to be continuously fed through its top with solid fuel to be coked and to continuously discharge finished coke through its bottom, and a stationary solid-fuel-charging metallic magazine mounted directly over and extending upwardly from the top of said coking chamber, a plurality of metallic charging pipes communicating -with said magazine and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating within said coking chamber at a spaced distance from the top thereof for feeding solid fuel from said magazine to said chamber, said pipes being arranged at spaced intervals throughout the horizontal area of said magazine and said chamber and being spaced from each other with a clear space between each other and also spaced from the walls of said chamber with a clear space between them and the walls of said chamber so as to form a. gas collecting space above the lower ends of said charging pipes and to accelerate the rate of flow of fuel from vsaid magazine through said gas space relative to the rate of flow of said fuel in the portion of the chamber below said gas collecting space.

2. In a vertical coking retort having an open top continuous vertical coking chamber adapted to be continuously fed through its top with solid fuel to be coked and to continuously discharge finished coke through its bottom, and a stationary solidfuel-charging metallic magazine mounted directly over and extending upwardly from the top of said coking chamber, a plurality of metallic charging pipes communlcating with said magazine and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating within said coking chamber at a spaced distance from the top thereof for feeding solid fuel from said magazine to said chamber, said pipes being adapted and mounted for removal and replacement through said magazine independently of said chamber and of removal of said magazine from said chamber and being arranged at spaced intervals throughout the horizontal area of said magazine and said chamber and being spaced from each other with a clear space between each other and also spaced from the walls of said chamber with a clear space between them and the walls of said chamber so as to form a gas collecting space above the lower ends of said charging pipes and to accelerate the rate of flow of fuel from said magazine through said gas space relative to the rate of flow of said fuel in the portion of the chamber below said gas collecting space.

3. In a vertical coking retort having an open top continuous vertical coking chamber adapted to be continuously fed through its top with solid fuel to be coked and to continuously'discharge finished coke through its bottom, and a stationary solid-fuel-charging metallic magazine mounted directly over and extending upwardly from the top of said coking chamber, a plurality of metallic charging pipes communicating with said magazine and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating within said coking chamber at a spaced distance from the top thereof for feeding solid fuel from said magazine to said chamber, said pipes being arranged at spaced intervals throughout the horizontal area of said ma azine and said chamber and being spaced from each other with a clear space between each other and also spaced from the walls of said chamber with a clear space between them and the walls of said chamber so as to form .a gas collecting space above the lower ends of said charging pipes, distillate gas oiftake means in communication with said gas collecting space in the top of said chamber for oiftake of gases of distillation therefrom separately from said magazine and said charging pipes, and a decarbonizing gas ofi'take pipe extending downwardly within said chamber from the top thereof to at least as low as the lower bonizing gases off at the top of said chamber separately from and independently of the charging magazine and the distillate gas offtake for said chamber.

4. In a vertical coking retort having an open top continuous vertical coking chamber adapted to be continuously fed through its top with solid fuel to be coked and to continuously discharge finished coke through its bottom, and a stationary solid-fuel-charging metallic magazine mounted directly over and extending upwardly from the top of said coking chamber, a plurality of metallic charging pipes communicating with said magazine and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating within said coking chamber at a spaced distance from the top thereof for feeding solid fuel from said magazine to said chamber, said pipes being adapted and mounted for removal and replacement through said magazine independently of said chamber and of removal of said magazine from said chamber and being arranged at spaced intervals throughout the horizontal area of said magazine and said chamber and being spaced from each other with a clear space between each other and also spaced from the walls of said chamber with a clear space between them and the walls of said chamber so as to form a gas collecting space above the lower ends of said charging pipes, distillate gas Offt-ake means in communication with said gas collecting space in the top of said chamber for offtake of gases of distillation therefrom separately from said magazine and said charging pipes and a decarbonizing gas olftake pipe extending downwardly within said chamber from the top thereof to. at least as low as the lower limits of said charging pipes and adapted for shunting decarbonizing gases produced by periodic combustion of accumulated carbon deposits on surfaces within said chamber from injurious contact with said magazine and charging pipes and for taking such carbonizing gases off at the top of said chamber separately from and independently of the charging magazine and the distillate gas ofitake for said chamber.

5. In a vertical coking retort having a continuous vertical coking chamber provided at its top with means for feeding solid fuel to be coked substantially continuously thereto and adapted to substantially continuously discharge finished coke from its bottom and having distillate gas offtake means in communication with said chamber for ofi'take of gases of distillation from coking fuel therein, a removable and replaceable decarboni'zing gas offtake pipe mounted in the top of said chamber for removal and replacement independently of removal of the feeding means and terminating at a distance below the top of said chamber and adapted for shunting decarbonizing gases produced by periodic combastion of accumulated carbon deposits on surfaces within said chamber from the feeding means above said decarbonizing gas offtake means and for taking such decarbonizing gases off at the top of said chamber separately from and independently of the feeding means and the distillate gas offtake means for said chamber.

6. In feeding devices for vertical coking retorts, in combination: a main metallic hopper provided at its bottom with a removable metallic feed pipe suspended from a discharge outlet therefrom and in open communication therewith for supporting a continuously discharging column of solid fuel extending through said pipe to and within said hopper and provided at its top with an opening for withdrawal therethrough of said removable feed pipe and a removable cover adapted to close said opening, and a suspension means connecting said pipe with said, cover for also suspending said pipe from said cover whereby said pipe may be withdrawn through said opening by the removal of said cover therefrom and said pipe will be retained suspended in the discharge outlet in the absense of suspension of said pipe by said discharge outlet.

7. In a coking retort, in combination: a coking retort chamber provided with a chargin opening in the top of the retort and with metallic charging passageways within said charging opening adapted for charging solid fuel into said retort chamber; hollow metallic bridge-members spanning the space of said charging opening between said passageways and constituting ventilating and cooling pas sageways, said bridge-members being open at their ends to the atmosphere and being closed to said charging opening and to said charging passageways for ventilating the bridge members and cooling said bridgemembers, said charging passageways and the spaces said bridge-members span between said passageways.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH BECKER. 

